Laundry machine



Dec. 19, 1961 uss LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 4, 1958 ATTORAE'YS United States Patent 3,013,765 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,765 LAUNDRY MACHINE Benjamin Alvin Buss, East Moline, Ill., assignor to American Machine and Metals, Inc., East Moline, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 719,099

j 2 Claims. (Cl. 251-29) This invention relates to fluid control mechanisms and more particularly to such mechanisms for washing machines and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide'a fluid pressure operated pilot control valve for controlling the operation of a fluid pressure operated discharge valve, such as the type disclosed in the patent to Archibald H. Davis, Jr., Patent No. 2,443,816.

Prior practice has been to use a solenoid operated valve for controlling the flow of fluid to the fluid operated discharge valve. This type of arrangement has not been completely satisfactory because of the relatively high cost of a solenoid operated valve of the type adequate to hold the main dump valve of the washing machine properly closed until the solenoid valve is operated, and due to the high cost of repair or replacement of such a solenoid operated valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pilot valve arrangement in which the valve will not be operated for a predetermined period even if the valve should leak.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pilot valve responsive to fluid pressure in the fluid control system for the receiver of a washing machine or the like to control the operation of the discharge valve.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pilot valve wherein a diaphragm subject to the pressure created in the intake means closes or opens the supply to the discharge valve, thereby operating the fluid control discharge valve.

The laundry machine of the invention includes a casing adapted to have fluid therein and having a discharge opening. A discharge valve operable by fluid pressure controls the opening and closing of the discharge opening. A pilot valve arrangement is provided for controlling the flow of fluid to the discharge valve, thereby controlling the operation thereof. The pilot valve arrangement includes a housing and diaphragm means within said housing which forms a compartment on eitherside thereof. Conduit means having fluid flow controlling valve means is pro- .vided for exhausting fluid from one compartment. The other compartment has inlet means connected to the source of fluid pressure for thedischarge valve. Fluid under pressure to the first compartment is supplied through header means which serves to hold the diaphragm means against the inlet means when the conduit valve means is closed so that fluid is supplied to the discharge valve to close the same. The pilot valve arrangement maintains the discharge valve in closed position when the fluid is no longer supplied through the source,: as long as the conduit valve means is closed, by the pressure in the header means. Exhaust means adjacent the bottom of the second compartment are provided 'so that when the conduit valve means is opened fluid from the header means is exhausted through the conduit means to relieve the pressure on the pilot valve diaphragm, thereby opening the inlet means so that fluid may flow from the inlet means to the exhaust means, thereby opening the discharge valve.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages hereof will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary. 70

In the drawings:

' pair of discharge valves 11 of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent to Archibald H. Davis, Jr. The washing water or fluid is supplied through hot or cold water supply lines 12 and 13 to the conventional solenoid operated mixing valve, shown generally at 14. Supply line 15 leads from the mixing valve to the interior of machine casing 16. Part of the fluid from the mixing valve 14 also flows through conduit 17 to conduit 18 which supplies water to the bottom of the main discharge or dump valves 11. The water in conduit 18 will also be fed to the pilot valve arrangement 19.

The discharge valves 11, one of whichis shown in detail in H6. 3, are of the type described in detail in the above referred to patent to Archibald H. Davis, Jr. They include generally a movable flexible diaphragm 20 secured be tween flanges 21 and 22 on the chamber forming plates of each discharge valve. When fluid under. pressure is supplied through conduit 1'8 and orifice 23 the diaphragm is moved against downwardly extending flange 24 surrounding the discharge opening 25 of the casing 16. Thus as long as fluid under pressure is supplied to conduit 18 the discharge valve will remain closed. When fluid is no longer supplied through conduit 18, diaphragm 20 is forced to its open or solid line position under the action of the fluid in casing 16 and the fluid is discharged between ribs 26 and through opening 27, A more detailed description of the operation of such a discharge valve is included in the patent to Davis.

The pilot control valve arrangement of the invention is best illustrated in FIG. 3. It includes a front plate 28 and a rear plate 29 having a flanged, threaded opening 30 for threadingly receiving one end of conduit 18. Conduit 18 is connected to, conduit 17 through a conventional T- shaped coupling 31. The front plate 28 has a flanged, threaded opening 32 for threadingly receiving one end of a header means or conduit 33 which is connected to the mixing valve for receiving fluid therefrom. A flexible diaphragm 34 is held about its periphery between portions of the plates 28 and 29 and the plates are secured together, thereby secure-1y holding the diaphragm about its periphery. A downward extension 35 communicating with compartment 36A of the pilot valve arrangement 28 also has a flanged, threaded opening 37 which communicates with compartment 38 on the right-hand side (as shown in PEG. 3) of the diaphragm. A conduit 39 connects chamber 38 to the interior of extension 35. A small solenoid valve, shown generally at 40, controls the flow of fluid through conduit 39. It is to be understood, of course, that conduit 39 can be a direct dump or exhaust line instead of being connected so that the fluid is exhausted through exhaust line 36.

The operation of the pilot valve 19 to close valves 11 is as follows:

Fluid is supplied from mixing valve 14 to the interior of casing 16 through conduit 15, through conduit 17 to conduit 18, and through conduit 33 to chamber 38 of pilot valve arrangement 19. When solenoid valve 40 is closed the fluid flowing through conduit 33 forces diaphragm 34 against inlet 30 to close the same, so that the fluid flowing through conduit 17 into conduit 18 will flow to discharge valves 11 forcing diaphragm 20 against flange 24 to close the discharge valves. When the supply of fluid from mixing valve 14 through conduits 15, 17 and 33 is stopped, and solenoid valve 4% is closed, the fluid in standpipe or conduit 33 forms a head of pressure which holds diaphragm 34 against the inwardly directed flanges around inlet 30 to close said inlet, thereby maintaining the diaphragms 20 of the discharge valves 11 in closed position. Fuid will also be in conduit 17 to form a head to maintain the pressure against diaphragm 20.

The operation of pilot valve 19 to open valves 11 is as follows:

Solenoid valve 40 is opened, thereby permitting the flow of fluid from chamber 33 and standpipe 33 through conduit 39 into extension 35 and out through exhaust conduit 36. This drainage results in the relief of pressure against diaphragm 34 which then moves from its FIG. 3 dotted line position to its solid line position to open inlet 30. With inlet 30 open the fluid in conduit 17 and conduit 18 will flow into-compartment 36A to extended portion or extension 35 and out through exhaust pipe 36, thereby relieving the pressure against the diaphragm 20 of the discharge valves 11. The fluid within casing 16 forces the diaphragm 20 to its FIG. 3 solid line position, thereby permitting the fluid within said casing to flow through opening 27. Thus the fluid within the casing 16 will be discharged therefrom by the opening of solenoid valve 40 when the supply lines 12 and 13 are closed.

In a pilot valve of the present arrangement, a small solenoid valve, for example A inch, holds the water in the column or conduit 33 against the diaphragm for holding the valve closed. in the event this valve should leak, which has not been found to be the usual case, it would have to leak the major portion of the column of water in this conduit before the valve would open.

A vent 41 can be provided. It is to be noted that the area of flexible diaphragm 34 is greater than the area of the lips 18A of conduit 18 where it is in contact with said diaphragm.

It is to be understood that the described exemplary embodiment is merely intended for the purpose of illust tration, that the principles of the invention are not intended to be limited thereto, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine or the like, the combination of a casing adapted to have water therein and having a discharge opening, a supply valve connected to a source of water under pressure, a discharge valve, said discharge valve including a diaphragm member operable to close said discharge opening under the action of water pressure, pipe means extending upwardly from said discharge valve to said supply valve, and a pilot valve arrangement for controlling the flow of Water under pressure from said pipe means to said discharge valve to control the operation of said discharge valve, said pilot valve arrangement including a housing, a flexible diaphragm within said housing forming a compartment on either side of said flexible diaphragm, conduit means for exhausting water from one compartment, a solenoid valve for controlling water flow through said conduit means, inlet means in the other compartment, said pipe means also being connected to said inlet means, a header extending upwardly from said one compartment to said supply valve, the water from said header serving to hold said flexible diaphragm against said inlet means when said solenoid valve is closed so that water is supplied from said supply valve to said discharge valve to close the same, said pilot valve arrangement maintaining said flexible diaphragm and said diaphragm member in closed position when water is no longer supplied through said supply valve as long as said solenoid valve is closed due to the water pressure in said header and in said pipe means, and exhaust means adjacent the bottom of said other compartment so that when said solenoid valve is open and said supply valve is closed, water from said one compartment is exhausted through said conduit means to relieve the pressure on said flexible diaphragm, thereby opening said inlet means so that water may flow from said inlet means to said exhaust means to permit said diaphragm member to move away from said discharge opening to allow water from said casing to flow through said discharge opening.

2. In a washing machine or the like, the combination of a casing adapted to have water therein and having a discharge opening, a mixing valve connected to sources of hot and cold water under pressure, a discharge valve, said discharge valve including a diaphragm member operable to close said discharge opening under the action of water pressure, pipe means extending upwardly from said discharge valve, and a pilot valve arrangement for controlling the flow of water under pressure from said pipe means to said discharge valve to control the operation of said discharge valve, said pilot valve arrangement including a housing, a flexible diaphragm within said housing forming a compartment on either side of said flexible diaphragm, conduit means for exhausting water from one compartment, a solenoid valve for controlling water flow through said conduit means, inlet means in the other compartment, said pipe means also being connected to said inlet means, a header extending upwardly from said one compartment to said mixing valve, the water from said header serving to hold said flexible diaphragm against said inlet means when said solenoid valve is closed so that water is supplied from said mixing valve to said discharge valve to close the same, said pilot valve arrangement maintaining said flexible diaphragm and said diaphragm member in closed position when water is no longer supplied through said mixing valve as long as said solenoid valve is closed due to the water pressure in said header and in said pipe means, and exhaust means adjacent the bottom of said other compartment so that when said solenoid valve is open and said mixing valve is closed, water from said one compartment is exhausted through said conduit means to relieve the pressure on said flexible diaphragm, thereby opening said inlet means so that water may flow from said inlet means to said exhaust means to permit said diaphragm member to move away from said discharge opening to allow water from said casing to flow through said discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,687 Johnson June 18, 1912 2,148,383 Tyden Feb. 21, 1939 2,274,663 Brisbane Mar. 3, 1942 2,305,151 Fields Dec. 15, 1942 2,407,761 McPherson Sept. 17, 1946 2,443,816 Davis June 22, 1948 

